How is it possible that another year has drawn to a close and we're about to hear the pitter patter of reindeer hooves on our rooves (see what I did there)?

It started off well with a New Music Award for Best New Top 40 Duo/Group with Julian Lennon. Idle Hands, my new record, developed quite a life of its own, and "Let's Art" was a number 1 on three US radio charts and number 12 on the FMQB chart. I got my solo gig feet wet and found I liked it. I had shows in Europe, Ireland and the UK and the US. I also got up a good head of steam on the next album, almost certainly to be called "Get Backer".

I still made plenty of noise with others, one of my favourite things to do. I did it with Peter Cox. I reconnected with Marcella Detroit and Peter Every's Neophyte Recursions after decades long gaps. Releases out this year that I contributed to include Colored Life by Gregory Darling, Songs from the Suitcase by Tony Mortimer, and Tales from the Grand Bazaar by the Bombay Dub Orchestra. Award nomineeds include Bill Blue's Mojolation, Laura Mvula's Sing to the Moon and Julian Lennon's Everything Changes.

And I just found out I've been nominated in four catagories for the 2013 Independent Music Awards: Favourite Single for Let's Art, Favorite Video for Let's Art, Favourite International Artist and Favourite Male Artist. Awards will be announced the second week of January 2014.

But I wasn't always stuck in the studio. As well as the usual raft of festivals and shows with ABC in the UK, UK and Europe, I got to spank my plank with Holly Johnson, Bananarama, Paul Young, Marc Almond, Mick Wilson, Rick Astley and Belinda Carlisle. I also got to teach a Master Class at The University of Hertforshire.

2014 opens with a few solo shows in the UK, a possible excursion to Key West to work on my new record with producer Ian Shaw at Warmfuzz Records and before we know it, spring will be upon us and it'll be time to hop on planes and jaunt around the globe with ABC and the usual festival suspects.